Process of forming insulating coverings for pipe joints



- Jun 4, 1929.

cps. MORGAN PROCESS OF FORMING INSULATING COVERINGS FOR PIPE JOINTS Filed May 28; 1927 MM W M H u m M Q BY w flfi ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PROCESS OF FORMING INSULATING CONEBINGS FOR PIPEJOINTS.

Application filed May 28, 1927. Serial No. 195,023.

ticularly adaptable for forming insulating coverings for surfaces curved in more than m one direction.

Another object is to provide a process of forming an insulating coveringfor a surface wherein a form or mold is secured over a surface of the type and at least part of the size 5 to be covered, and spaced therefrom, introducing insulating material into the space between said form and said surface, placingthe said insulating material under pressure, heating said surface until said material has set, and then removing said form or mold and said insulating material from said surface.

Another object is to provide a process of forming insulating coverings for surfaces,

comprising securing over a surface of approximately the shape and at least part of the size of the surface to be covered, a form spaced from the said surface, introducing an aqueous mixture of insulating material into said form, placing the material therein under pressure to cause the water therein to be substantially forced out of the form and thereafter heating said surface until the material within the form has set, after which the form and material in its molded shape may be removed.

A further object is to provide a process of forming insulating coverings for surfaces, comprising the provision of a form adapted to be put over a surface of at least part of the size and approximately the shape of the surface to be covered in spaced relationship thereto, said form being provided with a plurality of openings through its walls, placing screening elements over the openings adjacent the inner surface of the form, securing the form over said surface with the screening elements in place, introducing an aqueous mixture of insulating material into the space between the form and thesurface, placing the mixture within the form. under pressure whereby water therein will be forced out of the form through the screening elements, and thereafter heating said surf-a ce until the mixture within the form has set, whereupon the form and the material may be removed.

The above beingamong the objects of the present invention, the same consists in the use of certain apparatus and process-of using the same as will. hereinafter be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other obccts in. View.

in the drawing which illustrates a suitable apparatus for employing thepresent process, and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary View of a line of plping provided with joints over which forms employed in the present process are shown secured.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken View of one of joints and enclosing form shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the finished insulation halves such as is formed in the forms or molds shown in Figs. 1, 2'

and 3.

Heretofore, as far as applicant is aware, lnsulation for surfaces curved in more than one direction has been conventionally applied to the specific surface which it is to cover in a plastic state, and thereafter suitably wrapped with a fabric and allowed to dry. This conventional process is not-only slow and relatively expensive, requires skilled labor for the application of the same, but often results in an unsightly appearing and unsatisfactory joint.

The present inventionhas for its object the provision of a process particularly adaptable for forming insulating coverings for surfaces curved in more than one direction, whereby such coverings may be fabricated separately from the surfaces towhich they are to be applied, by unskilled labor, and thereafter may be applied to a corresponding surface by simply cementing the same thereto or by other suitable means, suchapplioation being readily made by unskilled persons, and resulting in a finished product efficient in use and clean in appearance.

Although the process herein disclosed is particularly applicable to the formation of insulating coverings for surfaces curved in more than one direction, it is equally applicable for forming insulating coverings-for plane surfacesor surfaces curved in but a single direction; inasmuch as the process is particularly adaptable for forming insulating coverings for surfaces curved in more than one direction, a specific application of the process for forming such a covering is illustrated in the attached drawing, apparent changes in the process for forming coverings for such surfaces being capable by the ordinary workman, for forming insulating coverings for simpler surfaces.

In the drawings I illustrate the process and apparatus employed for forming an insulating covering for a pipe L, the process of forming insulating covering for the same being indicative of the general process of forming an insulating covering in accordance with the present invention for any surface curved in more than one direction.

In the drawings I show a line of piping 10 in which is placed a pipe L 11 of the type and size for which insulating coverings are to be formed. It will be noted that such Ls present a curved surface both in the plane paral lel to the sheet of the drawings and also in a plane perpendicular thereto. The process I employ for forming said insulating covering for the L 11 is to surround the same by a mold or form comprising two halves 14.. These halves 14: are formed with mating surfaces adapted to abut against each other when in position around the L 1.1, and provided at their end parts with portions closely fitting the pipe 10, that portion enclosing the L 11 being spaced therefrom an amount equal to the thickness of the insulation desired.

It is desirable, in order to permit easy removal of the covering from the L 11 after the form or mold has been removed, to provide a pair of thin metallic dividing plates 15 between themating surfaces of the halves 14-, which dividing plates 15 extend inwardly into close relationship withthe surface of the L 11 so that the insulation will be substantially divided into two halves. The halves 1a with the dividing plates interposed therebetween are secured to the pipe 10 about the L 11 by bolts 16 and cooperating nuts 17. Leading preferably into both halves 1 1 of the formsis an opening 18 which is closed by a conventional check valve 19 such as is conventionally used for introducing grease into bearings of motor vehicles. A vent opening 20 is preferably provided leading from the highest point of the space between the molds and the L 11 to the atmosphere thereabove. In addition, a plurality of openings 22 are preferably provided through each half 1d of the molds for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

In practice, before the halves 14 are assembled in position over the L 11, a piece of canvas, fine wire mesh or other suitable material 23 capable of allowing water to be forced therethrough, but sufficiently line to prevent the passage of solid matter therethrough, is placed over the openings 22 on the inner side of the halves 14. When the halves 1 1 have been assembled in position, an aqueous mixture of insulating material mixed with a suitable binder, which insulating material may be asbestos, wool felt or any other suitable insulating material, or a mixture of the same, is forced into the interior of the mold through the valve 19 and openings 18,such mixture filling the interior space between the halves 14 and L 11. As soon as this mixture begins to extrude through the opening 20 which indicates that the interior of the mold has been completely filled, a plug 24 is screwed into the opening 20 to prevent any further mixture from passing out through the same, and more mixture is forced into the mold or form through the valve 19, suiiicient pressure being exerted upon the same to force the greater proportion of the water in the mixture either out of the joints between the halves 14 and the pipe 10 or through the screening elements 23 and through the openings 22. This leaves within the halves 14: a highly compressed and substantially dry mixture of insulating material. Steam is then passed through the pipe 10, heating the mixture within the mold or form, driving out the bulk of the remaining water and setting the mixture into a permanent form. As soon as the mixture has become suii'iciently dried or set so that it will not expand upon separation of the form halves it, the halves 1 1 and dividing plates 15 are removed, and the molded insulation is removed from the L 11 in two finished halves one of which is indicated as 21. These corresponding halves 21 may thereafter be applied to an L of the size and shape of the L 11 by simply cementing the butting halves thereof together over such L, or may be secured in place by wrapping fabricated covering over the same.

As indicated in Fig. 1, this same process may be applied to the formation of insulating coverings for pipe Te 12 or pipe angles 13, the process and method of application being identical, and the shape of the form being altered sufficiently to take care of the variation in form of the part for which such covering is to be made. In the application of this process for forming insulating coverings for relatively small surfaces such as for the L 11, T 12 and angle 13, I have found it desirable to employ a line of piping 10 of such a length and provided with such a number of joints such as 11, 12 or 13 therein, each provided with a suitable form or mold (such as the halves 14 around the L 11) that a workman may assemble such forms or molds over the joints and'may start at one end of the piping 10 and proceed to successively fill each form or mold with insulatingmaterial, steam being passed through the piping in the meantime, the number of joints being sufliciently great that by the time the last mold or form has been filled, the first has been sufficiently dried or set to permit the removal of the insulating parts 21 Y therefrom. By doing this, the cost of manufacturing such insulating parts is materially reduced and the speed with which they may be manufactured is materially increased.

.As described above, the process disclosed herein is equally applicable to the manufacture of insulating coverings for relatively large surfaces, either curved or plane, the steps of the process being the same in any case. It is to be noted however, that in forming such coverings for a relatively large surface, it may be found necessary to provide a relatively great number of drainage openings, such as the openings 22 described above, in the forms in order that the water introduced into the mold with the mixture for the purpose of making the same fluid, may be forced out of the mold and thereby allow quicker drying or setting of such mixture. It is also to be noted that it is not necessary to use split molds in all cases, but where the nature of the surface to be covered permits, a single piece mold may be employed.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Means for forming a molded insulation for a curved surface comprising, in combination, a form adapted to closely fit certain portions of said surface and spaced from other portions thereof a distance commensurate with the thickness of insulation desired, said form being provided with passages leading into the space between said form and said surface, a check valve in one of said passages, and means permitting the passage of water without permitting the passage of solids through another of said passages.

2. A mold for forming an insulated covering for a curved surface comprising, in combination, a plurality of mold parts adapted to form a substantially closed chamber about a core member, an inlet for said chamber provided with an inwardly opening check valve, and an outlet for said chamber screened against the passage of solids.

3. A mold for forming an insulated covering for a curved surface comprising, in combination, a core, a plurality of mold parts cooperating with said core to form a substantially closed chamber therearound simulating the desired insulation, a valved opening leading into said chamber, a plugable opening leading out of said chamber, and another opening leading out of said chamber provided with screening means for permitting the passage of water therethrough and holding solids against passage.

CLARENCE STANLEY MORGAN. 

